Opinion: Cargo thieves are plundering America blind — Congress must act
Opinion by Chris Spear, opinion contributor • 18h
The Hill's Headlines | PM - July 3, 2025
As Americans gear up for fireworks and barbecues today, another group is making plans of a different kind: cargo thieves.
Every year, the days around Independence Day see a notable spike in criminal networks seizing shipments of everything from televisions to energy drinks to vital medical supplies, exploiting the disruptions and reduced oversight that come with the holiday rush.
It’s all part of a growing cargo theft epidemic. Once a sporadic nuisance, it has metastasized into a nationwide criminal enterprise that is bleeding the U.S. supply chain to the tune of more than $35 billion each year. And everyday Americans are the ones footing the bill.
These thieves aren’t just smashing locks in the dead of night. Sophisticated criminal rings are exploiting weaknesses in our digital infrastructure, using ever-evolving cyber fraud and identity theft to impersonate legitimate carriers and hijack loads without ever touching a crowbar — often rerouting freight before it even leaves the warehouse. Others target trucks and trailers at rest stops and distribution centers, threatening the personal safety of drivers who are simply doing their jobs.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/opinion-cargo-thieves-are-plundering-america-blind-congress-must-act/ar-AA1HYJkU?ocid=widgetonlockscreen&cvid=66fa803857794778d000a2fd1eaeb8d2&ei=84
